Gerald Lawless

IBN Chairman

Gerald Lawless had a 23-year career with Forte Hotels, before joining Jumeirah in 1997 and helping establish ut as one of the premier luxury hotel brands in the world. Mr. Lawless went on to become President and Group Chief Executive Officer of the Jumeirah Group.

In January 2016, Gerald stepped down after 18 years as CEO of Jumeirah to move into a role advising parent company Dubai Holding on its tourism and hospitality assets. He also took up the chairmanship of the World Travel and Trade Council.

Gerald is a graduate of Shannon College of Hotel Management in Ireland. He is a member of the Global Future Council on the Future of Mobility of the World Economic Forum, and recipient of the 2017 Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad.

William Moroney

IBN Vice Chairman

Will Moroney has lived in Dubai for the past 16 years. His most recent role was the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Transguard Group. Historically he has served in roles including:

Cormac Sheedy

IBN Treasurer

Cormac been living in the Gulf for the past 14 years, with his wife and two sons. He has over 25 years’ experience in Financial Services, having worked at Invesco, Fidelity and Royal Bank of Canada. He is currently director of business development for Jersey Finance Ltd.

Cormac has been an active member of IBN since it was formed, and has worked on the Finance sub-committee. He was elected to the committee in September 2016.

Niamh Keohan

IBN Secretary

Niamh has lived in the UAE for ten years, working in marketing and PR in the hospitality industry, with IHG, Anantara and Jumeirah.

Niamh worked in marketing with P&G in Dublin, after graduating with an honors degree in Business Studies with Marketing.

For the last year and a half, she has run the Hospitality, Travel and Tourism sector with the IBN

Fiona Cottam

IBN Committee Member

An Arklow native working in Dubai since 2009, Fiona is the Principal at Hartland School.

Fiona is an an advisor for University of Brmingham in Dubai, a regular speaker and panellist at local and international conferences and radio, also writing for local publications.

Paul Mallee

IBN Committee Member

Paul Mallee has lived in the UAE for over six years and is the Managing Director of MaisonPrive Holiday Homes, based in Dubai.

A former Strategy Consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, he has also held senior roles at Etihad Airways and Emirates Group. He has served as Chairman of Bus Éireann and as a Board Member of CIÉ Group in Ireland.

He also served as Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Ireland and was a national council member for many years’.

Sinead El Sibai

IBN Committee Member

Sinead has lived in Dubai now for 30 years, and has worked in a senior Marketing role for Dubai Duty /Free for the past 18.

She was on the IBN committee for 5 years 2011-2016), 2 of which serving as Vice-Chair.

Amanda Gavin

IBN Administrator & Events Lead

Amanda has been working with the IBN since 2013 and is responsoable for orginising the IBN events and administration.

Amanda is the first point of contact for members via the IBN website and emails. If you are interested in joining the IBN, sponsoring an event or would like to get involved in some capasity please contact us on the IBN email.

Amanda is also the CEO of her own Public Relations and Event Company here in Dubai called AMG Consulting.